Method and System of Providing Signals

ABSTRACT

A method and system of supporting operation of customer equipment in systems having at least a portion of their signals being transported according to standards which are not supported by the customer equipment.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/540,161 filed Jan. 29, 2004 and U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/598,241 filed Aug. 3, 2004, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to methods and system of providing digital signals for playback on media output devices.

2. Background Art

Some cable systems are running out of bandwidth as more channels are being supported and new services are being added, such as high definition television (HDTV) and video on demand (VOD). In compensation, new compression standards are being contemplated to alleviate bandwidth consumption.

Cable operators, however, typically desire to maximize the available capacity on their plants without having to deploy new settop boxes (STBs) or other customer equipment every time a new compression standard becomes available. This can be a problem in environments where legacy systems are unable to support new compression standards. For example, this problem can be found in legacy MPEG-2 STBs and other devices that incompatible with advanced video compression (AVC) standards, such as H.264 and MPEG-4.

Because legacy devices, such as those described above, have enormous popularity and low cost, cable operators face a dilemma with respect to balancing the desire of additional bandwidth consuming services against the cost of replacing legacy systems to support the additional services.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One non-limiting aspect of the present invention relates to supporting operation of customer equipment in systems having at least a portion of their signals being transported according to standards which are not supported by legacy customer equipment.

One non-limiting aspect of the present invention relates to a transcoding unit operable with the customer equipment to transcode signals to standards supported by the customer equipment. The present invention contemplates a number of configurations and features for the transcoding unit, including a card configured to insert within a slot of the customer equipment. For example, the signals may relate to digital television (DTV) signals or other signals compressed according to advance video compression (AVC) standards or other standards which are not supported by the customer equipment, such as one which only support MPEG-2 compression and other non-AVC standards. In accordance with one non-limiting aspect of the present invention, the transcoding unit may be inserted into a card slot of the legacy customer equipment to transcode the AVC or other signals not supported by the customer equipment to non-AVC or other signals supported by the customer equipment.

The transcoding unit may include any number of features for transcoding signals, including a demultiplexer for determining whether a transport stream includes the signals in payloads associated with protocols supported by the customer equipment or non-supported protocols. In one non-limiting aspect of the present invention, the demultiplexer is configured to transport non-supported payloads/packets associated with the non-supported protocols to a transcoder and supported payloads/packets to a multiplexer. The transcoder transcodes the payloads/packets associated with the non-supported protocols to supported payloads/packets and outputs the transcoded payloads/packets to the multiplexer. The multiplexer combines the transcoded payloads/packets (which were previously associated with non-supported protocols or standards) with the supported payloads/packets into a common transport stream for output to the customer equipment.

One non-limiting aspect of the present invention relates to a system of providing digital television or other signals to a media output device. The system may include a host configured to decode signals carried in payloads of a first payload type for playback on the media output device and a unit configured for transcoding digital television signals carried in payloads of a second payload type to the first payload type so as to permit the transcode payloads to be outputted to the host for playback.

One non-limiting aspect of the present invention relates to a method of transcoding dissimilar payloads carried in a first transport stream. The method may include demultiplexing the first transport stream to recover first and second payloads, transcoding the second payload to a protocol associated with the first payload if a protocol associated with the second payload is dissimilar from the protocol associated with the first payload, and multiplexing the first payload and the transcoded second payload to a second transport stream.

The method may further include associating the first payload with MPEG-2 protocols and associating the second payload with AVC protocols such the second payload is transcoded to MPEG-2 protocols.

The method may further include decrypting conditional access (CA) encryption of the first transport stream prior to demultiplexing, and particularly, to decrypting the CA encryption of the first transport stream in a settop box (STB) and demultiplexing, transcoding, and multiplexing the first and second payloads in a card inserted into a card slot of the STB.

The above features and advantages, along with other features and advantages of the present invention, are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a system of providing signals to a media output device in accordance with one non-limiting aspect of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

FIG. 1 illustrates a system 10 of providing signals to a media output device 14 in accordance with one non-limiting aspect of the present invention. The system generally relates to a cable system where a provider 16 transmits signals over a cable or other transmission medium to media output devices 14 of its customers. Of course, the present invention contemplates other applications and is not intended to be limited to cable systems.

The present invention contemplates any number of features and configurations for the system 10 and is not intended to be limited to the features shown in FIG. 1. In particular, the present invention contemplates the communication of signals from the provider 16 to the media output devices 14 through any number of communication mediums other than cable, such as through wireless, satellite, fiber-optic, and other transmission mediums. Moreover, the present invention contemplates the transmission of any number of signals other than DTV signals (audio and video), including multimedia or data signals.

In accordance with one non-limiting aspect of the present invention, a host 20 may be provided to manipulate signals from the provider 16 to signals suitable for playback on the media output device 14. The host 20 may be a settop box (STB) or other customer equipment configured to output signals to a television or similar media output device 14, such as an audio unit, computer, or the like. In particular, the host 20 may be a digital video recorder (DVR), media terminal adapter (MTA), outlet digital adapter (ODE), or any other unit configured for manipulating non-supported signals received from the provider 16 to signals supported by the media output device 14.

The host 20 may include any number of features and components for manipulating the signals received from the provider 16. In particular, the host 20 may include a microcontroller 26, a tuner 28, a demodulator 30, a conditional access (CA) decrypted 32, a copy protection encoder 34, a copy protection decoder 36, a demultiplexer and decoder 38, a video and audio encoder 40, an audio port 42, and a video port 44.

In accordance with one non-limiting aspect of the present invention, the system 10 may include a transcoding unit 50 generally configured for transcoding non-supported signals to supported signals. In particular, one non-limiting aspect of the present invention relates to transcoding signals associated with AVC standards, such as MPEG4 and H.264, to signals operable with legacy customer equipment (i.e. customer equipment that only support MPEG-2, MPEG-1, MPEG-1.5 or other legacy compressive standards—many of which are characterized as being less compressive than the AVC standards). In this manner, the transcoding unit 50 may be used with legacy STBs, DVDs, or other types of customer equipment to support playback of transcoded signals on legacy systems, thereby permitting cable operators to utilize legacy customer equipment with newer non-supported standards and protocols.

In accordance with one non-limiting aspect of the present invention, the transcoding unit 50 may be a plug-and-play type device having an interface 52 configured for connecting to the host 20 through an interface 54, such as a Cable Card type device that inserts into an open cable interface (OCI) Cable Card interface (slot) of the host 20. Advantageously, the plug-and-play nature of the transcoding unit provides cable operators with a cost effective and practicable measure of supporting non-supported standards on legacy equipment.

Of course, the present invention contemplates any number of configurations for the transcoding unit 50 and is not intended to be limited to a card type unit which plugs or otherwise inserts into the host 20. In particular, the present invention contemplates the transcoding unit 50 being embedded on or otherwise included within the host 20, such as by being added to recycled customer equipment or configured to broadcast transcoded signals thereto, such as through a cable or wireless link.

The transcoding unit 50 may include any number of features and components for supporting the transcoding of signals from one protocol or standard o another. In more detail, the transcoding unit 50 may include a copy protection decoder 60, a demultiplexer 62, a transcoder 64, a multiplexer 66, and a copy protection encoder 68.

In operation, the provider 16, for example, may pocketsize digital television (DTV) or other signals into packets (headers, payloads, etc.) which are carried over a transport stream to the host 20, such as in an MPEG-2 transport stream. The signals are received by the tuner 28 and relayed to the demodulator 30 according to instructions received from the microcontroller 26.

Typically, the microcontroller 26 instructs the tuner 28 to select one or more channels from the incoming signals and then instructs the demodulator 30 to synchronize with and demodulate the one or more tuner selected channels for output to the CA decrypted 32. In particular, the tuner 28 may be configured to select a CAT 6 MHz FRO carrier in a band between 52 an 1002 MHz and to output the tuned to signals td the demodulator 28 for demodulation of quadrate amplitude modulated signals.

The CA decrypted 32 decrypts the conditional access security added by the provider 16 to secure transmission of the signals. The onboard CA decrypted 32 is advantageous as it provides a feature integrated into the customer device. The CA decrypted signals are outputted to the copy protection encoder 34 for copy protection encoding so as to protect the transfer thereof to the transcoding unit 50.

The copy protection decoder 60 of the transcoding unit 50 decodes the copy protection imparted by the host 20 and outputs the transport stream to the demultiplexer 62. The demultiplexer 62 analyzes payload and/or packet types of the signals carried by the transport stream and determines whether to transport the associated payloads to the transcoder 64 or to bypass the transcoder 64 and transport the associated payloads to the multiplexer 66.

In accordance with one non-limiting aspect of the present invention, payloads of the type associated with non-supported standards (i.e. AVC, MPEG-4, etc) are transferred to the transcoder 64 for transcoding to supported payloads whereas supported payloads bypass the transcoder 64. In more detail, one non-limiting aspect of the present invention relates to supporting AVC standards on legacy STBs such that the transcoder 64 must be configured to transcode the AVC standards (i.e. MPEG-4, H.264, etc.) to the legacy standards associated with the host (i.e. MPEG-2). In this manner, the transcoder 64 may be configured to transcode one or more types of payloads to a common payload associated with the host 20.

The transcoded payloads are outputted from the transcoder 64 to the multiplexer 66 to be remultiplexed with the bypassed payloads (i.e. those supported by the host). The multiplexer 66 remultiplexes the transcoded payloads and non-transcoded payloads to a transport stream. The remultiplexed signals are outputted to the copy protection encoder 68 for copy protection encoding and output to the host 20.

The signals outputted from the transcoding unit 50, which now include only payload types operable with the host 20, are decoded by the copy protection decoder 36 and outputted to the demultiplexer and decoder 38 where the payloads are separated from the transport streams for recovery of the DTV or other signals associated therewith. The microcontroller 26 reads control and message information included within the transport stream for use in selecting the appropriate video and audio packets that constitute the program(s) selected by the user, such as through a remote control channel selection, EPG channel selection, VOD program selection, DVR playback selection, and the like. The signals are outputted to the video and audio encoder 40 for encoding into video and audio output signals and delivered to respective audio and video ports 42-44 for communication to the media output device.

While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. A method of supporting operation of legacy customer equipment in a system where at least a portion of the legacy customer equipment receives non-supported signals, the method comprising: configuring a transcoding unit for operation with the legacy customer equipment, the transcoding unit configured to transcode non-supported signals to supported signals which are compatible with the customer equipment.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the legacy customer equipment are settop boxes (STBs) having onboard conditional access decryption capabilities and wherein the method further comprises configuring the transcoding unit to interface through a card interface of the STBs.
 3. A method of transcoding dissimilar payloads carried in a first transport stream, the method comprising: demultiplexing the first transport stream to recover first and second payloads; transcoding the second payload to a protocol associated with the first payload if a protocol associated with the second payload is dissimilar from the protocol associated with the first payload; and multiplexing the first payload and the transcoded second payload to a second transport stream.
 4. The method of claim 3 further comprising associating the first payload with MPEG-2 protocols and associating the second payload with AVC protocols such the second payload is transcoded to MPEG-2 protocols.
 5. The method of claim 4 further comprising associating the AVC protocols with MPEG-4 protocols
 6. The method of claim 4 further comprising associating the AVC protocols with H.264 protocols.
 7. The method of claim 3 further comprising decrypting conditional access (CA) encryption of the first transport stream prior to demultiplexing.
 8. The method claim 7 further comprising decrypting the CA encryption of the first transport stream in a settop box (STB).
 9. The method of claim 8 further comprising demultiplexing, transcoding, and multiplexing the first and second payloads in a card inserted into a card slot of the STB.
 10. The method of claim 9 further comprising decoding copy protection of the first transport stream in the card and prior to the demultiplexing, transcoding, and multiplexing.
 11. The method of claim 10 further comprising encoding copy protection to the second transport stream.
 12. The method of claim 11 further comprising transmitting the copy protection encoded second transport stream from the card to the STB.
 13. The method of claim 3 further comprising associating the first transport stream with MPEG-2 protocols.
 14. The method of claim 13 further comprising determining if the protocol associated with the second payload is dissimilar form the protocol associated with the first payload as a function of instructions associated with the MPEG-2 protocols of the first transport stream.
 15. The method of claim 3 further comprising associating the first and second transport streams with MPEG-2 protocols.
 16. A system of providing digital television signals to a media output device, the system comprising: a host configured to decode signals carried in payloads of a first payload type for playback on the media output device; and a unit configured for transcoding digital television signals carried in payloads of a second payload type to the first payload type for output to the host, the second payload type being associated with protocols dissimilar to protocols associated with the first payload type.
 17. The system of claim 16 wherein the host is configured to only decode signals carried in the first payload type.
 18. The system of claim 16 wherein the first payload type is associated with MPEG-2 protocols.
 19. The system of claim 16 further comprising a provider for providing the signals in a first transport stream, wherein the first transport stream carries the signals in payloads of the first and second payload types.
 20. The system of claim 19 wherein the unit includes a demultiplexer for demultiplexing the first transport stream to recover the payloads; a transcoder for transcoding the second payload type to the first payload type; and a multiplexer for multiplexing payloads of the first payload type with transcoded payloads of the second payload type to a second transport stream for output to the host.
 21. The system of claim 20 wherein the unit includes a bypass for bypassing payloads associated with the first payload type past the transcoder to the multiplexer such that the bypassed payloads are multiplexed at the multiplexer with the transcoded payloads.
 22. The system of claim 21 wherein the transcoder only transcodes payloads from the second payload type to the first payload type.
 23. The system of claim 16 wherein the host is a settop box (STB).
 24. The system of claim 23 wherein the unit is a card configured to insert within a slot of the STB.
 25. The system of claim 16 wherein the host is a digital video recorder (DVR).
 26. A transcoding unit for use with legacy settop boxes (STBs) which only supports playback of digital television (DTV) signals encoded according to non-advance video compression (AVC) standards and not DTV signals encoded according to AVC standards, the transcoding unit comprising: a transcoder configured to transcode DTV signals associated with the AVC standards to DTV signals associated with non-AVC standards so as to permit playback of the transcoded DTV signals with the legacy STB.
 27. The transcoding unit of claim 26 wherein the transcoder is included with a card configured to insert within a slot of the legacy STBs and wherein the STB includes onboard conditional access decryption capabilities.
 28. The transcoding unit of claim 27 wherein the DTV signals are carried in payloads of a first transport stream, and wherein the transcoding unit further comprising a demultiplexer for determining whether the first transport stream includes payloads associated with the AVC standards or the non-AVC standards and to transport payloads associated with the AVC standards to the transcoder and to transport payloads associated with the non-AVC standards to a multiplexer, wherein the transcoder transcodes the payloads associated with the AVC standards to payloads associated with the non-AVC standards and outputs the transcoded payloads the multiplexer, and wherein the multiplexer combines the bypassed payloads with the transcoded payloads to a second transport stream for output to the legacy STB. 